Companies that will bear the costs of vaccinating employees

Flipkart is the latest company to join the growing number of firms which are bearing the vaccination costs for  employees. People above 60 years of age and those above 45 with comorbidities are being inoculated in the second phase of the vaccination drive that began on March 1.
These are the companies which will be covering costs for their employees.

ANSHIKA AWASTHI

FlipKart

E-commerce major FlipKart has recently confirmed that the group will cover 100 per cent of vaccination cost for all FlipKart and Myntra employees.
"While we wait for the government's decision on the next phase, I am happy to share that Flipkart Group has decided to cover 100 per cent of the vaccination cost for all Flipkart and Myntra employees and three dependents. You can choose to be reimbursed for the costs of the vaccinations or get them free of charge at a partner hospital," Flipkart said.

Reliance Industries

"As per our earlier commitment, Reliance will bear the full cost of vaccination for you, your spouse, your parents, and vaccine-eligible-aged children . You and your family's safety and well-being is our responsibility," said Nita Ambani, non-executive director, Reliance Industries in an internal communication to all its employees. The group has tied-up with specific hospitals to roll out the vaccination drive for employees.

Infosys

Software giant Infosys was one of the early companies who decided to bear the cost of vaccination. It is currently looking to partner with healthcare providers for the same. "Infosys is looking at partnering with healthcare providers to vaccinate employees and their immediate families as eligible under the guidelines given by the Government of India and as per approved procedures and timelines. Infosys will cover the vaccination cost for the employee and immediate family as part of our focus on health and wellness," Pravin Rao, Chief Operating Officer,  Infosys, replied to queries sent by Moneycontrol.

Accenture

Accenture in India announced that it would bear the cost of COVID vaccine for its employees and their dependents on March 3. The company "strongly supports the scientific and public health advice that encourages vaccination," said the company in a statement. "As we continue to navigate the pandemic, nothing is more important than the health and well-being of our people," said Rekha Menon, Chairperson and Senior MD of the company.

TVS Motor

Two-wheeler and three-wheeler manufacturer TVS Motor Company  also announced a few days back that it would provide free COVID-19 vaccination for all employees and their immediate family members. The ongoing vaccination drive will cover 35,000 direct and indirect company employees across the country.

Sify Technologies

Sify Technologies Ltd had also announced on March 8 that it would cover the vaccination cost for more than 2,000 employees and their family members. The company said employees can also get their elderly family members vaccinated at designated hospitals across the country." One of the tenets of  Sify  is 'Always remember you are part of the Sify team', said chairman of Sify Technologies Ltd Raju Vegesna.  In rolling out this benefit, we just extended that tenet to the family, he added.

Mindtree

Bengaluru-based IT firm Mindtree would also cover vaccination costs of its employees and their immediate families in line with the government's guidelines.

"Mindtree will be facilitating Covid-19 vaccination for all its India employees as well as their immediate family members, as per the guidelines provided by the Government of India on use and timelines. Similarly, all Mindtree Minds based outside India but having family members in the country, will be able to avail the facility. The entire cost of the immunization drive will be borne by Mindtree. We believe this is part of our responsibility and the basic ethos of the organisation to participate in the larger cause of the vaccination drive in India," said Paneesh Rao, Chief People Officer, Mindtree.

Capgemini

French IT major Capgemini will also cover the cost of the COVID-19 vaccination for all eligible employees and their dependents.

In a statement, Capgemini said health and well-being of its colleagues is the highest priority for the company and that it will cover the cost of coronavirus vaccines of all eligible employees and their dependents in strict accordance with all government-approved protocols.

 "Adhering to the government protocols, Capgemini will cover the cost of the vaccination for all the eligible employees and their dependents who are part of our medical benefits programme," Ashwin Yardi, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Capgemini in India, said.